starky

So I am less than a week away from my arrival in the usa as a 30 year old Irish man. I am looking forward to going, but I wonder what did you do your first day/week/month in the usa? I am kinka shitting it ………. I know no one over there!!

elfman

had been to the USA on holiday before but on my first day as an actual US resident my Mrs and I went to the top of the Empire State Building in the evening to look at the city lights. All very romantic, you might think, except it was November and 'kin freezing up there.

Rete

Whereabouts are you going in the US. If you are in the NYC area, you won't be lonely for lots of Irish pubs and other Irishmen and women.

Dogbyte

Arrived at 615pm after a long flight and the usual grilling at Immigration over why we were here ?.A bit of a bottle tester even though we were all straight with the required paperwork but... We were met at the Airport and taken for a meal by our companys meet and greet rep,who was loud but fabulous.We cant remember much and after a good sleep of 8 hours, off like headless chickens to sort out our social security cards which had been messed up by the SS prior to our arrival.Then off to see the apartment we had rented and sign all the papers,then off to get,bedding,pillows,bits of food and cutlery etc,all time comsuming.Then off to get our rental car so we had some independence from our m & g rep.A thousand and one things which are now a blurr to be honest, but if you have done your homework and organised a list of essential items to be complted, you will be fine.Everything will drop into place although you will still be bemused for at least a month until the major things are completed. I will say this the folks on here are tremendous ,joking aside for advice as they understand 'been there done that' etc,ask for help they dont bite... much ! Best Wishes and welcome to the lunatic asylym that is the USA

dbj1000

I don't remember my first 3 months, let alone my first day! It was all a blur of new places, new job, new apartment and spending lots and lots of money...

starky

Interesting, I have been reading your …. At best full of sarcasm posts for the last few months.. can it be you have some nostalgia of your first few days in the US??? Or are you just a real softy at heart?

starky

boston!! full of irish no doubt

geeandtee

we were the last ones off the plane, and, consequently, the last ones through Immigration. The Immigration people at Phoenix Sky Harbour were really, really friendly, I couldn't believe it.
The city Manager and his secretary were waiting for us, we were loaded into a car and taken to Carrabbas for a meal, the City Manager's wife joined us. We were exhausted, went back to their place and slept through a thunderstorm. Next day, found a house, sorted out my SS number, put offer on house. Met my new colleagues at City Hall, a real whirlwind of a day.

starky

wow sounds like a big day all around! glad it was a good exp. for you!

Kali-forniarrr

after the full body cavity search...

MsElui

we arrived after long delays in chicago due to weather absolutly exhausted with the 2 small kids - so we just collapsed at the hotel (it was 3-4 am iirc).

next day we did some food shopping so we could have breakfast and snacks etc at the hotel (suite had a tiny kitchen) and then went to see another recent expat (same firm as my husband but 2-3 months ahead of us) in their new home - and picked up a large duffle bag of stuff we had left with them at the end of our househunting trip a month or so before (ie we left some clothes and toiletries and kitchen bits behind on the househunting trip so we could bring full suitcases over this time and have a bit more variety until the freight arrived etc).

NC Penguin

Like Elfman, I'd visited the US several times before I moved here.

After all the immigration business at the airport, on leaving the building I'll never forget feeling like I'd stepped into an oven. It was probably 100F that day in May 2002 and it was hot and humid. Not at all like London.

The first week was spent living in a hotel and in the daytime, we were occupied with getting the practical stuff sorted out like finding a place to live, buying a car, opening a bank account, getting driver's licenses, etc.

Within the week, we'd signed a rental agreement on an apartment so we were also furniture shopping and arranging for our shipment from the UK to be delivered to our new "home".

My spouse also began working at his new job (same employer but new position in a new location).

Bill_S

I spent the first night fighting off the advances of hot American women who were eager for a go with an exotic foreigner.




Funny, but I don't normally remember my dreams.

Kali-forniarrr

Aren't they locally known as hookers?

geeandtee

awww, go on, you're just jealous 'cos you didn't get one.